Partners in Service Brings Together Faith Communities, Businesses and Social Service to Help People in Need

Faith communities, businesses and social service agencies have created a unique collaboration to support families with at-risk children.

Partners in Service (PINS) was launched last year by the Family Care Community Partnership serving Providence, Pawtucket, Cranston and Central Falls and led by Family Service of RI.

Rabbi Peter Stein, of Temple Sinai in Cranston, praised PINS.

“The PINS effort allows us to fulfill our vision as a congregation, of doing our share to eliminate suffering in the community,” he said.

“It’s a marvelous program engaging all people in the community for the purpose of preserving families,” said Rev. Carl Balark of Providence’s Ebenezer Baptist Church.

While Family Service of RI and partnering social service agencies provide a range of services for the families enrolled in the Family Care Community Partnership, when it comes to basics like household goods and clothing they turn to PINS.

“For families struggling to make financial and emotional ends meet, connection to a caring faith community or business can make all the difference,” said Family Service of RI CEO Margaret Holland McDuff.

(read more here)

New Health, Wellness & Community Resource for Gay Men in Rhode Island

After months of planning and getting input and feedback, Family Service of RI division AIDS Project RI has launched an online health, wellness and community resource for gay men in Rhode Island.

Check it out: it's called Men2MenRI.org and it's a first-of-its-kind website in the Ocean State.  It's a place where gay men can easily access info on a variety of Rhode Island-specific topics, such as finding a doctor, volunteering, coming out, and much more. 

Congrats to AIDS Project RI executive director Thomas Bertrand and all involved in creating this website!

Body and Mind Workout at Central Falls High School

Family Service of Rhode Island, in partnership with the Central Falls School District, the Youth Restoration Project and other partners, has instituted "Restorative Practices" throughout the Central Falls School District.

Joshua Reis is a "Restorative Coach," and provides an early morning CrossFit program at Central Falls High School as part of "Restorative Practices" to foster community building and healthy relationships among participants.

"Restorative Practices" work to provide students with the supports they need to be successful. In addition to CrossFit, Restorative interventions include "circles," to address behaviors such as tardiness and bullying; "mediation," in which Restorative staff serve as facilitators between parties having a conflict; and "walk-talk," to help defuse conflicts occurring in a classroom.

Recently, WPRI TV did a "Street Stories" segment about the program.  See it below:

Body and mind workout at CF High School